The first signs of psoriasis often appear on the head and then spread throughout the body. Psoriasis of the head occurs with itching and risk of bacterial complications. If you suspect the psoriatic nature of the rash, you should consult a doctor immediately - the disease responds well to treatment in the beginning. The article contains all the information about the symptoms and all known treatments for this form of the disease.
Causes of psoriasis of the head
This is a chronic non-infectious dermatological process that develops in people with a hereditary predisposition. The causes of psoriasis of the head and the mechanism of its development are not fully understood. But it was found that the process develops against the background of metabolic and immune disorders. The body loses control over the division of skin epithelial cells: they begin to divide much faster. Signs of keratinization, manifested in the form of peeling, appear just as quickly. At the same time, inflammatory processes develop in the skin.
The main cause of psoriasis of the scalpis a hereditary predisposition. Scientists are trying to identify the genes responsible for transmitting the disease from generation to generation. Separate altered areas related to different genes found in patients and their close relatives have already been identified.
But a person who has a genetic predisposition does not necessarily get sick. External and internal predisposing factors are equally important. Scalp psoriasis begins in genetically predisposed individuals due to exposure to the following factors:
- mechanical skin irritation (with a hairbrush with hard teeth; injury to small wounds and crusts that occur with seborrhea, etc. );
- exposure to cold;
- transmitted infectious diseases; often after streptococcal impetigo - purulent rashes mainly on the skin of the face; it develops in children and stimulates the development of an autoimmune process;
- chronic stress and high loads;
- frequent smoking, alcohol abuse;
- dietary disorders - irregular malnutrition, dry food, excessive consumption of high-calorie foods and hot spices;
- with hormonal disorders that affect the condition of the sebaceous glands of the skin - obesity, imbalance of sex hormones, diabetes, diseases of the thyroid gland, pituitary gland, hypothalamus;
- in diseases of the liver and kidneys with impaired function of these organs; toxins are neutralized in the liver and excreted by the body through the kidneys; intoxication can become a starting point in the development of the disease.
Under the influence of one or more factors, the interaction of the organism with the environment is disrupted. Protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism is disturbed, which leads to acceleration of metabolic processes in the skin and its peeling.
Psoriasis from any location can spread throughout the body, so do not delay treatment.
Changes in the immune system manifest themselves in the form of increased sensitivity of the skin to any external influences (in addition to combing or frequent hair coloring). In response to such influences, antibodies are produced to their own cells, which provokes the appearance of an autoimmune inflammatory process. The reasons for the inflammation are still unclear. This is one of the priorities of medicine in the direction of treating psoriasis.
Symptoms of scalp psoriasis
Psoriasis of the head manifests itself in the form of characteristic symptoms. The disease can begin acutely with multiple rashes (vulgar form of psoriasis) or gradually with itching and flaking of the skin and only then appear characteristic rashes (seborrheic form).
The more common onset is gradual, in the form of dandruff and flaking. In the early stages, these are small areas in the occipital region. The peeling spreads to larger areas and starts itching. Constant scratching of the skin contributes to its roughening and the appearance of abrasions. What does scalp psoriasis look like? The initial symptoms of psoriasis on the head in the photo look like this:
In the area of scratches and abrasions, redness first appears, followed by small inflammatory nodules and papules, surrounded by a bright edge rising above the surface of the skin. Accompanied by severe itching, the rash increases in size and merges with each other. The characteristics of the rash are:
- white "sawdust" covering the papules; when scraped, it looks like a stearin spot; in the seborrheic form the scales are yellowish in color and the phenomenon of the stearin spot is less pronounced;
- if you scrape off all the "chips", a smooth translucent surface opens;
- further scraping leads to the appearance of droplets of blood on the surface - "bloody dew".
In the photo, three characters look like this:
These three characteristic features distinguish scalp psoriasis from seborrheic dermatitis, which is easily confused. In the future, the papules merge to form psoriatic plaques, which have different configurations and sometimes spread over the entire surface of the head.
The course of psoriasis of the scalp may be mild with the appearance of single rashes in the initial stage. These rashes then go through all three stages of development. In severe form, the rash occupies the entire significant area and spreads to the face and neck in the form of a crown - an inflammatory edge covered with silvery scales. The roots of the hair do not suffer, but the psoriatic process is often accompanied by bacterial, fungal or mixed infection, which leads to complications that are not so easily treated. Here's what the crown looks like:
Stages of psoriasis of the head
The disease lasts a long time, exacerbations are replaced by remissions. The frequency of exacerbations and the severity of symptoms depend on the presence of provoking factors.
Progressive stage
The rash and inflammation spread, accompanied by severe itching. In the initial stage there is a symptom of Koebner - the appearance of psoriatic rashes at the site of scratches and abrasions.
Stationary
The process is in the same state, does not spread, but does not fade.
Regressive
The process gradually subsides, the itching disappears, the rash fades, the inflammatory infiltrate decreases, gradually acquiring the appearance of a spot; the color of the rash becomes pale, starting from the center, forming ring-shaped figures with a brighter border. Sometimes they begin to fade from the periphery to the center and then take the form of whitish rings (a symptom of psoriasis of the head is Voronov's pseudoatrophy). The healing phase can take quite a long time and gradually only white depigmented spots remain on the skin.
Methods of treating psoriasis of the head
Scalp psoriasis requires systematic treatment under the supervision of a physician. Crucial is a mobile lifestyle, quitting smoking and alcohol, diet. It is necessary to treat the disease in a complex way, to apply techniques, taking into account the characteristics of the patient's body. Complex therapy can include modern European methods, drug treatment, as well as oriental methods proven for centuries. Such treatment can immediately significantly improve the patient's condition and lead to the development of stable remission within a few weeks.
PRP - therapy - the method is based on the ability of platelets (red platelets) to secrete growth factor, which stimulates the regenerative abilities of cells. By centrifugation, the patient's blood is enriched with platelets and then injected pointwise into the scalp. The technique can significantly accelerate the onset of remission and prevent the development of relapses.
Autochemotherapy - treatment is performed by intramuscular injection of a small amount of blood taken from a patient's vein. This has a general stimulating effect, restores the epithelium of the head. Stable remission is observed after treatment.
Reflexology is the effect in different ways on special points of the body, reflexively related to organs and tissues. One of the most ancient and effective traditional methods of treatment. The impact on the points can be done through acupuncture (acupuncture), cauterization, massage and more. The treatment of psoriasis of the head with these methods has been practiced in Eastern medicine for thousands of years. The treatment is performed by a reflexologist.
Vacuum therapy - the effect of dilute air on biologically active points - is one of the methods of reflexology. It can be done with cans or special equipment. Promotes rapid recovery of altered tissues. As a result of the application of vacuum therapy, the affected areas are significantly reduced.
Phytotherapy - dermatologists widely use in their practice medicinal plants in the form of infusions, decoctions and ready-made pharmaceutical forms. When used properly as part of a comprehensive treatment, they are very effective both in the early stages of the disease and in its long-term forms. If you add herbal medicine, the effectiveness of other treatments increases, the risk of developing side effects decreases.
Treatment of psoriasis of the head in the clinic
In a specialized clinic, this disease is treated by dermatologists who are trained and have clinical experience in the treatment of this disease with all known methods. In their work, they use new Western methods of treatment in combination with traditional Eastern methods, which have been used successfully by physicians in ancient China and Tibet for thousands of years.
To avoid recurrence, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of the disease
Professional clinics use a variety of methods with an individual approach to each patient. Several complexes of traditional methods in combination with medical treatment can permanently save the patient from scalp skin problems.
The effectiveness of the treatment in the clinic is noted in their comments and reviews not only by patients who regularly receive maintenance treatment, but also by colleagues from other Moscow clinics.
Prevention of psoriasis of the head
Prevention of psoriasis of the head is especially necessary for people with a hereditary predisposition who have sick relatives. It includes eliminating the impact of the following factors:
- any prolonged skin exposure;
- malnutrition and sedentary lifestyle;
- prolonged stress and heavy loads;
- smoking and alcohol abuse;
- hormonal disorders - if such disorders are suspected, you should immediately contact an endocrinologist;
- intoxication - timely treatment of all chronic diseases that contribute to impaired metabolism and immunity.
A dermatologist can tell you how to cure psoriasis of the head after an examination. Therefore, you should not delay the advice of a specialist, because the initial stages of the disease are much easier to treat. Can we cure this process? It is completely impossible to cure the disease, but if a person is treated regularly, there is a great opportunity to get rid of relapses for a long time.
Diet for psoriasis of the head?
There is no special diet, but the treatment of scalp psoriasis includes proper 4 meals a day, containing all the necessary ingredients in the diet. Foods that irritate the skin should not be present on the table:
- spicy, salty, sour;
- fruits rich in essential oils (fresh garlic and onions, radishes);
- fried, smoked, canned foods;
- caffeinated beverages - strong tea, coffee, Coca-Cola, etc. ;
- alcoholic beverages - they contribute to the development of relapses.
It has been found that meat food provokes exacerbations, so the diet should contain more foods containing complex carbohydrates, lean meat, cottage cheese, yogurt and more.
Drug therapy for psoriasis of the scalp?
Medicines are selected according to the patient's condition and the presence of certain symptoms of the disease. In the initial stage of psoriasis of the head, the following external means are used:
- when wet, solutions and creams are prescribed that eliminate these symptoms and prevent bacterial and fungal infections;
- if the skin is dry, then it is treated with ointments; ointment with salicylic acid - has a emollient effect; tar ointments have the same effect; ointments with zinc and vitamin D3 analogue + glucocorticoid betamethasone help a lot - helps to quickly eliminate the symptoms of psoriasis;
- ointments and creams with corticosteroid hormones are prescribed in the treatment of common forms of psoriasis of the head;
- shampoos are widely used; thus, tar shampoos relieve inflammation, soften crusts; zinc shampoo has antiseptic and emollient effect, relieves inflammation; shampoos have been used for a long time.
Folk remedies for psoriasis of the head?
Is it possible to treat scalp psoriasis with folk remedies? Most specialists use folk remedies for symptomatic treatment (removal of certain symptoms) of this disease. But you should be aware that:
- it is necessary to treat the disease with folk remedies on the recommendation of a dermatologist;
- it is impossible to cure the disease only with folk remedies; dermatologists prescribe complex therapy in combination with traditional medicine.